Get college brochures and applications

Now that you’ve been on the campuses of some of your selected colleges, you can collect more information. You can either request brochures and applications while on campus or by mail.

Once you receive these documents, read them thoroughly. You don’t want to come across any surprise deadlines later on when you’re actually applying.

Plus, having these applications on hand from the get go allows you to prepare and collect any information you may need early, so it’s not a mad rush come time to fill them out. Some documents you may need include your parents’ tax forms, your own tax forms, transcripts and a listing of your high school achievements.

During the summer between junior and senior year, you can get ahead start on your college application essays. Write rough drafts and show them to people whose opinions you trust. What do they think? Do you need a more focused topic? Do you have grammatical issues all over the place? Get genuine feedback on these initial drafts so you can crank out essays sure to make college administrators take notice later on.

Starting early really is the key here. Admissions essays are the gateway to the school of your dreams. You need to make sure you do your absolute best. Not too much pressure, eh?

During early spring, make it a point to start applying for scholarships. You’ve had plenty of time now to sort through them, collect any necessary information and take note of individual deadlines. Now is the time to start applying.

You may luck out and find a scholarship or two that only requires you fill out a form for consideration. But many others require you to write an essay. “Not another essay!” you cry. Not to worry. Just think of the incentive of winning these scholarships? You’ll get free money to go toward your college tuition, books or other expenses that you never have to pay back!